ASTB - Nautical Information Questions
and Answers (Expert Solutions)
Q: Bow, 🗹🗹: Forward-most part of the ship
Q: Fore, 🗹🗹: Forward direction toward the bow
Q: AFT, 🗹🗹: Backward direction toward the stern
Q: Stern, 🗹🗹: Back of the ship
Q: Midships, 🗹🗹: Between the bow and the stern
Q: Amidships, 🗹🗹: Actual center point of the ship
Q: Centerline, 🗹🗹: Imaginary lengthwise line down the center of the vessel
Q: Port, 🗹🗹: Left side of the ship when facing toward the bow
Q: Starboard, 🗹🗹: Right side of the ship when facing toward the bow
Q: Hull, 🗹🗹: The body of the ship
watertight to give strength and buoyancy
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Q: Keel, 🗹🗹: The bottom-most structure of the ship
Backbone of the Hull
Q: Frames, 🗹🗹: Sections that run longitudinally (fore and aft) or transversely (side
to side) throughout the vessel
Skeletal Structure
Q: Decks, 🗹🗹: Horizontal Portion of the structure supported by beams
Q: Bulkhead, 🗹🗹: Vertical wall-structure that further divides a vessel interior to
various components
Vital to both strength and preventing damage
Q: Hatches, 🗹🗹: Openings that allow for accessing a loading of supplies - closed
when not in use
Q: Forecastle, 🗹🗹: Forward most component on a ship
Q: Superstructure, 🗹🗹: Main Deck / Upper Most Complete Deck
Q: Bridge, 🗹🗹: Key point from which the ship navigates - it is apart of the
superstructure
Q: Helm, 🗹🗹: The apparatus used to control the direction of the ship
Attached to the rudder